Published Thursday, 10 March 2011
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web, and Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, are also on the shortlist revealed at a ceremony at the British Ambassador's residence in Moscow.
The Gorbachev Awards have been set up by the former Soviet leader, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1992, to mark his 80th birthday earlier this month.
Mr Gorbachev said: "The people nominated for the inaugural Gorbachev Awards have already made a significant contribution to the world and changed the way we live our lives today.
"Selecting just nine people has been very hard and we are delighted that the people we have nominated bring such a diverse range of skills and achievements to the awards, and the values the awards stand for."
The winners will be announced at a gala concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on 30 March.
Full list of nominees:
Perestroika: For contribution to the development of global civilisation
- Sir Timothy Berners-Lee (UK) - Inventor of the world wide web in 1989.
- Martin Cooper (US) - Engineer and inventor who made the world's first mobile telephone call in 1973.
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil) - Rose from humble roots to become president of Brazil between 2003 and 2011. Revived his country's economy and drove development around the world.
Glasnost: For contribution to the development of the culture of an open world
- Ted Turner (US) - Founder of CNN and philanthropist.
- Steven Spielberg (US) - Film director and producer who created Schindler's List, E.T. and Jurassic Park.
- Bono (Ireland) - Lead singer of U2 and philanthropist.
Uskorenie: For contribution to the development of modern science and technology
- Sergey Brin (US) - Co-founder of Google.
- Jurgen Habermas (Germany) - Philosopher and social scientist.
- Evans Wadongo (Kenya) - In 2004, aged 18, he invented a solar power lamp which gives people free light.